Dickinson State already has about 250 Chinese among its more than 2,700 students, and the school has established study-abroad programs with 15 Chinese universities.

In Missoula, Mont., the Confucius Institute at the University of Montana offers Mandarin language instruction to high school students online and classes at local high schools.

The University of Minnesota’s institute, which was founded two years ago, does a majority of its work with Minnesota public schools, said its director, Joan Brzezinski.

“I think we have been extraordinarily well received,” she said.

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